Sending Christmas cards has been embraced as a tradition but it was not a traditional thing at the beginning since it was a product of innovation of the culture. Here we will look at the history of christmas cards, the evolution of Christmas cards in the recent centuries, and how it keeps on making the world joyful.
Origins of the use of Christmas Cards
It is only important to remember that the practice of exchanging Christmas cards goes back to mid 19th century. The tradition has its start in a greeting card at Christmas time and is much owed to Sir Henry Cole, a British civil servant, and a famous artist John Callcott Horsley. It is recorded that in 1843, Cole engaged the service of Horsley in coming up with a card that conveyed season’s greetings of one sort to another or, to friends, acquaintances, and others in a novel form of representation. This was the first card issued and depicted a family enjoying Christmas with the greeting ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You’ attached.
The evaluations on these cards at first were rather balanced. Some were actually accepting the new tradition while the others that were more stingy saw it as an added expense. But over time due to the increase in its usage, the roller became associated with the season’s acts of kindness and yuletide merry-making.
On the Evolution of Christmas Cards
Towards the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, the Greek Mythology Family Tree becomes more vivid and has a much more artistic point. In the early 1900s, there was the use of lithographs and the incorporation of Victorian Christmas designs as well as the painting of winter landscapes and religious art.
The new epoch of young talents came to the stage in the 1920s and 1930s. Technological improvements in printing became prominent and cards with good colours and designs could be printed in large numbers. They got more and more elaborate; many bear lace, pop-ups,s and even musical elements on them. It also brought commercial designs into practice which were reflective of what was popular in the culture and tendencies.
During the post-war period of the fifties and sixties, Christmas cards have elements of humor and fun. For instance, icons like Santa Claus, reindeer, and snowmen were adopted as key themes. These designs eliminated complexities that might have restricted the use of cards and instead made it possible for people of all classes to use them and they became part of the Christmas tradition.
The New Digital World and the Condition of Christmas Cards
The commercialization of the social world in the last quarter of the twentieth and the first years of the twenty-first century saw a drastic change in the way Christmas greeting was being done. Email and social sites became new added means of sending festival cheers that gradually replaced paper cards. Computerized or e-cards also emerged featuring more complex designs in terms of animation and style in addition to being able to be made to the brim with interactions that could not in any way fit paper-made cards.
Nonetheless, most people continue to appreciate the importance of physical cards in a way that digital cards do not offer in the same way. To this day, the exchange of a card via post is a lovely custom, which is close to the communication that a computerized or messenger message provides.
The Return to the Use of Handmade and Customised Cards
With the introduction of new and modern forms of Christmas greetings, the modern generations have seen a revival of History letters handmade and customised. This trend can also be explained by the increasing appreciation of people, interest in making every card more personalized, in higher quality. This has been welcomed by craft lovers and artists as an opportunity to show their creativity through writing personal scripts on them, illustrating them by hand paint to embroidered styles.
Another advancement has been made in the production of novelty cards, whereby one can write or have a photo or a design that is unique to his or her card. They let the people insert an element of creativity in their holiday messages, thus, making each card unique, especially to the recipient. This trend only goes to illustrate the fact that there is a certain never die attitude to card-giving in today’s society.
Christmas cards have been an indispensable part of the people’s lives for quite a while now, and it can be stated that the very future of these cards remains rather uncertain.
Thus, in future, one can anticipate the Christmas card tradition will also change its form in a way. As the application develops, there could potentially be new features that apply augmented reality or digital interactivity. However, I believe that the fundamental message which is usually conveyed on a Christmas card: happiness, message, and reunion are still intact.
Whether it’s a beautifully designed paper card or a digital greeting with a personal touch, the essence of Christmas cards lies in their ability to convey warmth and goodwill. As long as people continue to value personal connections and the joy of giving, Christmas cards will remain a beloved part of the festive season.
Conclusion
From their humble beginnings to their place as a cherished holiday tradition, Christmas cards have undergone a remarkable transformation over the past century. Their journey reflects broader cultural changes and the enduring human desire to connect with others during the festive season. As we celebrate the tradition of sending Christmas cards, we honour a practice that has brought cheer to countless hearts and continues to brighten the holiday season with each new card sent.
